Evidence mapPaperPMID 39725567Full record

SynthesisObesity (Silver Spring, Md.)2025

Efficacy of antiobesity medications for weight reduction in older adults: a systematic review.

Alissa S Chen, Alexandra M Hajduk, Alyssa A Grimshaw, Terri R Fried, Ania M Jastreboff, Kasia J Lipska

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Alissa S ChenNational Clinician Scholars Program, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1049-9274
Alexandra M HajdukSection of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Alyssa A GrimshawHarvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Terri R FriedSection of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Ania M JastreboffYale Obesity Research Center (Y-Weight), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1446-0991
Kasia J LipskaSection of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Funding

TREATMENT GOALS FOR PERSONS WITH MULTIFACTORIAL GERIATRIC HEALTH CONDITIONSP30AG021342 · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2002 to 2025
$8.0M
Yale Training Program in Geriatric Clinical Epidemiology and Aging-Related ResearchT32AG019134 · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2001 to 2025
$1.6M
NIA NIH HHS P30 AG021342NIA NIH HHS T32 AG019134
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe objective of this study was to examine weight reduction and adverse events associated with use of antiobesity medications (AOMs) in older adults ages ≥65 years.

methodsSeven databases were searched for studies evaluating weight reduction of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved AOMs. Studies had to include adults ages ≥65 years with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m

resultsSix experimental studies (five secondary analyses of randomized clinical trial data and one single-arm trial) and two observational studies met inclusion criteria. Seven medications were studied. Sample size of older adults ranged from 13 to 6728. Experimental studies predominantly included patients with concurrent prediabetes or cardiovascular disease. All studies found statistically significant weight reduction between intervention and placebo groups or compared with baseline weight. Few studies reported on adverse events.

conclusionsLimited evidence suggests weight reduction of AOMs in older adults, with the best current evidence for the use of semaglutide in older adults with obesity and cardiovascular disease. Larger, more inclusive studies of older adults are needed to guide clinical care and determine the tolerability of AOMs for older adults.

Indexed as

Anti-Obesity AgentsObesityWeight LossAgedCardiovascular DiseasesGlucagon-Like Peptide 1Glucagon-Like PeptidesHumansMaleRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSemaglutideTreatment OutcomeAnti-Obesity AgentsGlucagon-Like Peptide 1Glucagon-Like PeptidesSemaglutide

Identifiers

PMID39725567
PMCPMC12198421

What Socratic holds

Texttitle and abstract
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.